RIVERSIDE, Calif. - UC Riverside put up a fight with a pair of runs in the ninth inning, but was unable to even the series on Saturday night at the Riverside Sports Complex with a 4-3 loss to Long Beach State. 

UCR countered Long Beach's four-run fifth inning with a run in the sixth on Jacob Badawi's sacrifice fly, his second RBI in his last three games. Badawi's flyout to center brought in Andrew Gamez, who led off the frame with a leadoff four-pitch walk. 

Gamez also led off the fourth inning with a single and kickstarted a Highlander rally that put him in scoring position as Long Beach escaped unscathed. 

Alfredo Capacete pinch hit for Dominic Martinez in the ninth, and the switch paid off as Capacete shrank the deficit with a two-run RBI single into left field. 

Cruz Barrios entered in relief for his ninth appearance of the season, putting in a season-high 4.0 innings with three strikeouts and just one hit allowed against 14 batters. 

UC Riverside will host Long Beach State in Sunday's series finale at 1:00 p.m. at the Riverside Sports Complex.